Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Artist’s Home Offers Light-Filled Luxury in a Small Space

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:00 AM PDT

[ Filed under Patios & Decks & in the Interiors category ]

Even before stepping into this home in the Jardins neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil, it is clear that there is something special about it. A glowing red neon sign by the front door announces “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” A wooden screen known as a muxarabie – a trademark of the architect responsible for the home’s renovation – covers the entrance, softening the harsh rays of the sun.

The home was originally built in the 1940s and was once occupied by celebrated artist Victor Brecheret. Following the artist’s death, the residence was used to house part of Brecheret’s collection but was never occupied again until architect Guilherme Torres renovated it for his own personal use.

While keeping the structure of the home largely the same, Torres transformed the interior into an open and airy space that is flooded with natural light. The kitchen spills out into the courtyard, allowing the residents to transition effortlessly between the indoors and outdoors while enjoying the shelter of the home’s walls and retractable glass roof.

Despite the natural light which makes it look rather large, this diminutive home is only 1400 square feet. The home’s prime location in one of Sao Paulo’s most desirable neighborhoods only adds to its charm. But its best quality might be the artistic soul that still runs through every room.

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[ Filed under Patios & Decks & in the Interiors category ]

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Liftoff! DIY Coffee Table With Extending Laptop-Holding Top

Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:00 PM PDT

[ Filed under Transforming & in the Furniture category ]

One of the humble coffee table’s most common uses is holding laptops while we tap away on them. But since the coffee table wasn’t exactly intended for that purpose, it doesn’t hold laptops at just the right height whether you sit on the sofa or the floor. Instructables user Lofgren encountered just this problem and decided to take the bold step of modding his existing coffee table to his own purposes.

The project is reasonably easy to follow if you’ve got basic carpentry skills, and it doesn’t require anything you can’t find in a decent hardware store. It involves removing the top of the table and attaching some new arms that lift the tabletop up and to the side, letting you use the table as a handy laptop stand that’s usable while you sit on the sofa.

All told, the finished table looks a lot like the table that the modder started with. When it is extended it looks like a super-geeky laptop station that’s perfect for long gaming sessions. But when the top is lowered it looks just like a regular (but rather stylish) piece of living room furniture. And the creative guy behind the project managed to do it using his existing coffee table, spending much less than it would have cost to buy a brand new transforming coffee table.